Cyprus Hires 180 British Security Guards To 'Control' Bank Re-Opening

The security firm that became infamous for its Olympics snafu is responsible for the 'safety' of Cypriot banks and their money as they prepare to open tomorrow. G4S is the world's largest security-provider, and has been helping banks in the last week by sending out teams (with police protection) to restock ATMs. However, an additional 180 staff have been hired to, "be based outside branches... to control queues," adding (rather optimistically), "if there are any queues." It seems the extra security is, "basically it is to make the banking people feel safe and the customers as well." As ekathimerini reports, while the banks have been closed, businesses have been calling on the security company to find places to keep their cash and asking for guards and alarms to protect their assets. They are also using G4S as an intermediary to bring money from overseas to pay wages and suppliers, and drawing on its systems for shipping cash to provide guarantees for payments abroad, effectively using it as a kind of bank. G4S local boss added, "people have had time to digest the agreement so maybe there won’t be that scenario whereby people run to the banks to withdraw." Oh we are sure...

A British security firm that transports cash for Cypriot banks is working round the clock, sending teams out with police protection to stock bank machines and readying guards for when banks reopen on Thursday.

The world’s largest security firm, G4S, moves cash and will provide guards for Cypriot lenders including Bank of Cyprus and Cyprus Popular Bank, the two biggest, which are to be combined and see large depositors’ accounts frozen under a bailout agreed at the weekend.

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"Demand is greater than we can provide... We haven’t closed since the crisis started," he told Reuters. "I’ve never seen anything like it in terms of what is going on from a security perspective. I would say the workload has quadrupled because the whole system has changed."

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"People have had time to digest the agreement so maybe there won’t be that scenario whereby people run to the banks to withdraw," he said.

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They are also using G4S as an intermediary to bring money from overseas to pay wages and suppliers, and drawing on its systems for shipping cash to provide guarantees for payments abroad, effectively using it as a kind of bank.

The next big test will come on Thursday when 180 G4S guards will be deployed at bank branches to help handle an anticipated surge of customers demanding cash and answers.

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"The staff will be based outside branches and are there to control queues, if there are any queues," he said. "We will be in contact with the police. Basically it is to make the banking people feel safe and the customers as well."

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The firm achieved notoriety for admitting just weeks before the start of last year’s London Olympics that it could not provide a promised 10,400 venue guards, hitting its profit and reputation.

wow, fonz, you sparked an idea for a movie............DHS vs. military....all out civil war....country begins to break down...internal chaos ensues.........bruce willis will play the 5 star general leading the country to freedom from the orwellian and suppressive DHS, whose vicious leader will be played by herself janet napolitano.............................lets go 50/50 on the production costs............whaddya say????????

Because then the NWO fascists at the UN would start getting worried that they might be on the wrong side of a hollow-point bullet traveling at supersonic velocity, and then they start dragging out things like the Geneva Conventions.

Beg to differ on your "handgun rounds don't generally travel at supersonic speeds" comment. You must not shoot much! MOST handgun rounds DO exceed the speed of souond. In fact, you have to purchase special "subsonic" 9mm rounds to make a suppressed handgun even a little less loud. The suppressor can muffle the sound of the rapidly expanding gasses, but can do nothing about the sonic boom/"crack".

Note that the "JHP" are the hollow point rounds, and most have ADDED powder (+P) to give them more velocity and thus more force on impact. Note also that there are some JHP rounds that are a few hundred ft/sec less than the speed of sound. These are mostly meant to be used in suppressed handguns/carbines. You sacrifice a few ft/lbs at impact for the lessened noise on firing.

Nice post... don't forget a .22 rimfire will take down a fallow deer-sized mammal or at least disable /scare the shit out of it with careful shot placement (effective range limits). High velocity .22 (stingers et.al) are good out to 100 yards. 1,640 fps and a 32 grain bullet. Skeptical? shoot yourself in the leg and see: a) how you feel; b) the extent to which your mobility is impaired; c) Pat yourself on the back for the knowledge gained from a useful field experiment.

Back up, that's all, use what tools you have and know there limitations.

There will be food, fun & frivolity for all, with clowns (sponsored by GS4), sausages (shoved right up your asses), fun rides (in the back of armored vans), and even late afternoon fireworks (so please leave your own at home)!

Quick - invest in Cypriot mattresses - it looks like there will be a lot of them worth 100,000 Euros soon... As people pull out their money and the government restricts the subsequent movement of that money, people will try to hide it in their homes. I see gangs of thugs raiding homes -- and yes, unprotected businesses -- in search of cash!

Security guards are probably for the paid agents provacateurs who might smash some windows of a nearby store. Then the people (especially the older folks) will fear chaos more than they fear their rotten government and will re-elect them. I'm still holding out a tiny bit of hope that Cypriots have more spine than that but I don't know. Europeans are making us in the US look good by comparison. And that is hard to do. I don't advocate violence, but at least stop electing people who will keep you in the euro no matter what the cost.

Cyprus has strict gun control. Private citizens are completely forbidden from owning handguns and rifles in any calber, even .22 rimfire. Only shotguns are allowed, and these require a license. Shotguns are limited to two rounds. The only shotguns typically sold in stores are double-barreled side-by-sides or over-unders. Pump actions and semiautomatics are prohibited. A private citizen can own a total of ten different shotguns. A citizen is not required to specify a reason for ownership to obtain a license, but most own their guns for hunting. Licenses are issued by provincial police. A gun license is required to buy ammunition, and ammunition sales are recorded. A shotgun owner may purchase up to 250 shells at one time. Cyprus also controls airguns, and airgun owners require a license.

These people are unarmed and completely at the mercy of the British mercenaries being hired by the IMF. They have absolutely no recourse but to grab both ankles and take it dry.

In a righteous world, these mercenaries would be assassinated along with every Cypriot politician who refused to stand up to this and of course, all the banking scum.

What is it going to take before the blood starts flowing to break the grasp of these fucking vampire squids?

Cyprus has strict gun control. Private citizens are completely forbidden from owning handguns and rifles in any calber, even .22 rimfire. Only shotguns are allowed, and these require a license. Shotguns are limited to two rounds. The only shotguns typically sold in stores are double-barreled side-by-sides or over-unders. Pump actions and semiautomatics are prohibited. A private citizen can own a total of ten different shotguns. A citizen is not required to specify a reason for ownership to obtain a license, but most own their guns for hunting. Licenses are issued by provincial police. A gun license is required to buy ammunition, and ammunition sales are recorded. A shotgun owner may purchase up to 250 shells at one time. Cyprus also controls airguns, and airgun owners require a license.

These people are unarmed and completely at the mercy of the British mercenaries being hired by the IMF. They have absolutely no recourse but to grab both ankles and take it dry.

In a righteous world, these mercenaries would be assassinated along with every Cypriot politician who refused to stand up to this and of course, all the banking scum.

What is it going to take before the blood starts flowing to break the grasp of these fucking vampire squids?

180 rent-a-cops at the bank's door aren't going to protect the banker and his family from polonium poisoning or "hanging" at home.

Let's call this what it is. The beginning of a currency reform. How wide will it spread is anybody's guess. Malta and Luxembourg are next up. Spain, Italy and France are being prepped as we speak and even Germany will see the same fate over the next few months and just after the important German elections.

New money. Limited amounts. A week ago a Cypriot business man had 200k in the bank. Tomorrow he will have 120k if he's lucky. He can pay his employees only 40% less wages and his suppliers only 40% less than a week ago.

I bet CNBC is "on location" covering this, as 180 new hires will drive down the Cypriot unemployment rate and can be touted as a 'green shoot' from this -- at least until the thousands of financial workers get laid off from their closed banks. Of course, the 180 will be let go as soon as the banks are drained of deposits and shuttered, but that just means a seasonal adjustment will be needed... You know -- "Closed Bank Season".

Lets see, next US headline... US Markets "resilient" in face of "islolated" Bank runs abroad, as "Investores" seek the safety of Bernanke's rigged game. The land of The Brave and the home of The Free Money.

On a serious note, "However, an additional 180 staff have been hired to, "be based outside branches... to control queues," adding (rather optimistically), "if there are any queues." It seems the extra security is, "basically it is to make the banking people feel safe and the customers as well."

I have been wondering about the Ex-pats myself. Ten days is a long time with no cigarettes, pipe tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and lastly food.

I suspect we are in for a long hot summer in the Med. Tourists do travel to unstable areas,warzones and such,but these are usually young backpackers I expect. The old folks want the security and quiet life. Much tourism in Athens these days? Hmmmm.... See the reason I mention it is people used to talk about hard currencies and soft currencies,but that is becoming a no-brainer.I used to live down-under and the German tourists were notorious for eating platefuls of steaks because meat was cheap in Oz as compared to Europe.

Too bad they don't have access to that farmland in the north of Cyprus. Oh well.....